(Reuters) -Chinese electric vehicle maker XPeng (XPEV) forecast fourth-quarter revenue below estimates on Monday, as a prolonged price war and ​intensifying competition in the world's largest auto market threaten to slow its ‌growth. The company's U.S.-listed shares, which have more than doubled this year, fell nearly ‌4% in premarket trading. The cautious outlook comes despite XPeng and rival NIO (NIO) posting record deliveries in October, even as Tesla's (TSLA) China sales slumped to a three-year low. ...

Core Insights - Tesla Inc. is reportedly two to three years away from starting production of the highly anticipated Roadster, as indicated by a recent report from Business Insider [2] - The latest designs for the Roadster suggest a 2-seater configuration with butterfly doors [2] - CEO Elon Musk teased an "unforgettable" demo for the Roadster, hinting at the possibility of it being a "flying car" [3] Production Timeline - Production of the Roadster is expected to commence in at least two to three years [2] - The company has filed for a patent for an active aerodynamic system that could allow the car to hover by reversing airflow [3] Social Media Dispute - OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly criticized Tesla for not refunding his $50,000 booking for the Roadster after cancellation [4] - Musk responded, stating that the refund was processed within 24 hours, and noted that Altman is not the only one to cancel a booking, as YouTuber Marques Brownlee also canceled one of his reservations [5] Company Metrics - Tesla scores well on Momentum and Quality metrics, with satisfactory Growth but poor Value [6] - The company shows a favorable price trend in the Short, Medium, and Long term [6]

Core Insights - Tesla is preparing to unveil a significant update on the long-awaited Roadster, with intensified efforts observed over the summer [1][9] - This marks the first substantial activity on the Roadster program in over a year, with new designs indicating a shift to a two-seater with butterfly doors [2][3] - The company is estimated to be two to three years away from production, with ongoing design fluidity and recent hiring of engineers for aerodynamic prototypes [3][4] Design and Development - Recent designs for the Roadster show a departure from the original four-seater prototype, which was unveiled in 2017 [2] - The design process remains fluid, and the final product's appearance is still uncertain, as Tesla's design team is known for experimenting with various options [3] - Tesla's design boss indicated that a demo of the Roadster is on track for later in 2025, with a patent granted for an aerodynamic system that could enhance vehicle performance [11][12] Production Timeline and Challenges - The Roadster program faced a pause after layoffs in April 2024, and the program manager left the company in July 2024 [4] - Musk has acknowledged the delays, stating that the Roadster's development must take a backseat to projects with a more significant global impact [4] - Reservation holders have expressed frustration, with some canceling their $50,000 deposits, highlighting the ongoing challenges in meeting customer expectations [4] Future Prospects - Musk has hinted at ambitious features for the next-generation Roadster, including the potential for it to be the most memorable product unveil and the possibility of a flying car [10] - The company is actively working on manufacturing roles related to the Roadster, indicating a commitment to moving forward with the project [11]

Forecasting Challenges in Aviation - Aviation predictions tend to be overly optimistic, overpredicting project success and underpredicting costs and difficulties [3][4] - Accurate forecasting requires broad thinking, encompassing technology, infrastructure, supply chain, climate effects, labor, environmental effects, regulatory policy, and geopolitics [5][7] Factors Affecting Air Travel - Air travel is part of a multimodal transportation system, chosen based on cost, time, convenience, safety, and reliability [8] - Aircraft speeds, measured as gate-to-gate times, were faster in the past, but traffic has grown fourfold, leading to slower speeds [12][14] - Shorter flights and smaller aircraft are more affected by weather delays and air traffic management practices [18][19] - Disruptive storms are growing, impacting air traffic and reliability [20] Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) - Advanced Air Mobility, or flying cars, combines private aircraft and drone technology, envisioning electric-powered vertical takeoff and landing vehicles [26][27] - The FAA anticipates 3,000 vertiports and 10,000 AAM flights per day within six years of operation, compared to the current 45,000 flights per day in the national airspace system [35] - The success of AAM depends on overcoming challenges like congestion, weather extremes, and other factors that could make it less enticing than driving [36]